Tom F. McCourt

MASON CITY: Tom F. McCourt, 81, of Mason City, died Monday, January 13, 2014 at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Friday, January 17, 2014 at the Evangelical Free Church, 1310 Highway 18 West, Clear Lake with Pastor Dan Jordan officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Thursday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue at the church on Friday one hour prior to services. Memorials may be directed to the Tom McCourt Memorial Fund. Tom was born June 9, 1932 in Mason City the son of F.F. and Anna (Lehman) McCourt. The family moved to a farm south of Plymouth around 1938. Tom attended and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1951 and remained friends with many of his classmates his entire life. Tom married Lila Sharp on June 27, 1952 in Nashua, Iowa. He went on to serve in the US Army and was stationed in Korea where he was a radio operator in a combat troop. Tom worked in the building trades industry for many years building his own home in Plymouth. While in Plymouth, he was involved with the Plymouth Fire Department, Plymouth City Council, and was instrumental in making many community improvements. In 1978, Tom and Lila moved to Mason City. Tom worked for the City of Mason City as the Rehabilitation Coordinator in the Community Development Department and following his retirement, drove a bus for the city. After Lila’s death in 1984, Tom met Margaret Jackson. Tom and Margaret shared 30 years together traveling, looking for antiques and participating in many antique shows. At one point they had 5 active antique shops. Tom and Margaret became active at the Kinney Pioneer Museum, both serving on the board. They traveled many winters to Arizona spending time with Lori, Steve, and the girls and looking for antiques the entire way. Tom was a member of the VFW and Mason City Evening Lions Club. It was known to all that Tom would not take no for an answer when it came time for the annual grandfather clock raffle ticket sales. He would help anyone at any time and will be missed by all. Tom is survived by his beloved Margaret Jackson, a loving companion of almost 30 years; 1 daughter, Lori (Steven) Anderson of Mesa, Arizona; grandchildren, Ashley Anderson of Burbank, California, Megan Anderson and Stefani Anderson of Mesa, Arizona; special niece, Judy (Wally) Davies of Manly; 2 sons, Jerry (Teri) Jackson of Mason City and Jim (Tanya) Jackson of Oxford, Iowa; grandchildren, Jamey (Anne) Jackson of Shakopee, Minnesota, Tim (Amanda) Jackson of Mason City, Brent (Karen) Jackson of Des Moines, Eric (Chris) Jackson of Garner, Jason (Sarah) Jackson of Wilmore, Kentucky, and Scott Jackson of Forest City; 10 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Betty Miles or Arkansas; sister-in-law, Mona McCourt of Plymouth. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Lila; 3 brothers, Keith, Don, and Dean.

Service:
Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, Iowa